§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what levels of accuracy have been achieved by the meteorological office over each of the last 10 years; [2586]
(2) what was the income from the marinecall weather line in the most recent period for which was figures are available. [2587]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThese are matters for the chief executive of the Meteorological Office. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Barry Field, dated 6 November 1996:
I am replying to your Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Meteorological office's income from out Marinecall service and our overall forecast accuracy over each cif the last ten years, as these matters fall within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office.The income to the Meteorological Office form the Marinecall telephone weather line in the twelve month period to September 1996 was some £239,000.523WTurning to forecast accuracy we only have strictly comparable figures, expressed as a composite index of forecast performance (the most useful measure), for each of the last nine years. The data are set out below. You will note that there has been marked progress in the quality of your forecasts.
- 1987–88: 87.48
- 1988–89: 92.10
- 1989–90: 98.56
- 1990–91: 98.94
- 1991–92: 100.95
- 1992–93: 105.43
- 1993–94: 110.48
- 1994–95: 114.18
- 1995–96: 120.88
I hope this gives you the information you need.